UNITED NATIONS, September 5 (RIA Novosti) - The United Nations intends stop the transmission of the deadly Ebola virus in six to nine months, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Friday.
"At the meeting we have just held, we agreed to establish an Ebola crisis center to bring synergy and efficiency to the efforts of these many partners within and beyond the United Nations. The goal is to stop Ebola transmission in affected countries within six to nine months, and to prevent the international spread of the virus," Ban Ki-moon is quoted as saying on UN’s official website.
The UN leader urged airlines and shipping companies not to cancel flights and docking to the affected counties. Banning flights and shipping services would not keep Ebola from spreading, but could prevent medical teams from reaching those in need, he stated, adding that stigma and rumor could do as much damage as the virus itself.
Ban Ki-moon called for the international community to contribute to the World Health Organization's Roadmap and help it gather the $600 million needed for medical supplies in West Africa.
On August 28, WHO presented a so-called Ebola response roadmap, aimed to scale up and coordinate international response to the outbreak in West Africa.
The Ebola virus is frequently fatal and is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of someone infected. The worst Ebola epidemic in history began in southern Guinea at the end of 2013 and soon spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
The outbreak has claimed more than 2,000 lives, according to the latest World Health Organization estimates. More than 3,900 cases of Ebola virus infection have been recorded. The number of people affected by the virus could rise to 20,000 before the virus is brought under control, the organization states.
